Fresno State Athletics
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Entz announces staff updates for 2026
2/4/2026 3:45:00 PM | Football
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State football head coach Matt Entz announced a handful of staff changes for the 2026 season on Wednesday.
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Bulldogs' defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto has added the title of Associate Head Coach. Benedetto led one of the top defenses in the FBS last season as Fresno State ranked 10th in the country allowing an average of 285.7 yards per game. Fresno State was 16th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 18.8 points per game. Benedetto was one of four FBS defensive coordinators to be in the Top 20 in those two statistical categories in each of the last two seasons.
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The success of the Bulldogs' defense in 2025 was its best since at least the 1992 season. Fresno State has not allowed fewer than 300 yards of offense to its opponent in the last three decades.
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On his defensive staff, Tucker Meyer has been made a full-time nickels coach. He assisted the position group in 2025 as an analyst, mentoring one of the key pieces to the defense in Simeon Harris.
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Jordan Gigli has added the title of defensive run game coordinator to his title, and will continue to lead the defensive line in 2026.
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With the departure of the Bulldogs' offensive line coach following 2025, former tight ends coach Brian Ferentz will coach the offensive line into 2026. Ferentz was an offensive lineman himself, and has coached the offensive line previously with five years specified to the group. Former assistant offensive line coach Bijan Hosseini will coach the tight ends. He previously coached the position group at a community college in his first coaching position. Jared Taylor, who was an offensive analyst in 2025 will be an offensive assistant with the quarterbacks in 2026.
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Entz also made title changes and hires in the recruiting and player personnel department. Jake Rasmussen oversees all recruiting and player personnel areas as Executive Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting. Kody Hensley and Jaden Diamond remain on staff for 2026. Hensley is now Director of Player Personnel/High School Recruiting while Diamond is Director of Player Personnel/College Scouting. Eli Hernandez has been hired as Assistant Director of Player Personnel.
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Bulldogs' defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto has added the title of Associate Head Coach. Benedetto led one of the top defenses in the FBS last season as Fresno State ranked 10th in the country allowing an average of 285.7 yards per game. Fresno State was 16th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 18.8 points per game. Benedetto was one of four FBS defensive coordinators to be in the Top 20 in those two statistical categories in each of the last two seasons.
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The success of the Bulldogs' defense in 2025 was its best since at least the 1992 season. Fresno State has not allowed fewer than 300 yards of offense to its opponent in the last three decades.
Â
On his defensive staff, Tucker Meyer has been made a full-time nickels coach. He assisted the position group in 2025 as an analyst, mentoring one of the key pieces to the defense in Simeon Harris.
Â
Jordan Gigli has added the title of defensive run game coordinator to his title, and will continue to lead the defensive line in 2026.
Â
With the departure of the Bulldogs' offensive line coach following 2025, former tight ends coach Brian Ferentz will coach the offensive line into 2026. Ferentz was an offensive lineman himself, and has coached the offensive line previously with five years specified to the group. Former assistant offensive line coach Bijan Hosseini will coach the tight ends. He previously coached the position group at a community college in his first coaching position. Jared Taylor, who was an offensive analyst in 2025 will be an offensive assistant with the quarterbacks in 2026.
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Entz also made title changes and hires in the recruiting and player personnel department. Jake Rasmussen oversees all recruiting and player personnel areas as Executive Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting. Kody Hensley and Jaden Diamond remain on staff for 2026. Hensley is now Director of Player Personnel/High School Recruiting while Diamond is Director of Player Personnel/College Scouting. Eli Hernandez has been hired as Assistant Director of Player Personnel.
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